As a worship team background vocalist, what should I do when I’m not singing?

(Transcript)

Question:

I've heard you say that when you're leading worship, you should not close your eyes and enjoy your own personal worship moment, but to stay engaged with the church people.

But as a background singer that might only sing half of the time, how do I do that?

It seems awkward to be looking at the congregation when I'm not actively involved in the song. I think it looks like I'm just gawking at people and not paying attention.

Should I be looking at the song leader? Scan the audience in lip sync? How should I pass that time when I don't come in until the second course?

Answer:

Great question, and this is why we have real talk, because that's not something that I've thought about before.

What does the background singer do whenever I say your eyes should be open? And I am talking to you as the background singer. But let's talk about what that specifically looks like.

Reframing Your Perspective: Intentional Engagement

First of all, looking out at people is not awkward. I know it feels awkward, but people aren't—I mean, don't look like you're daydreaming. Do it intentionally. Look at people as you're singing. "I will build my life upon your love, it is a firm foundation." We're singing this together, so we can look at the people that we're singing it with.

So, I just want you to kind of reframe that in your mind. It's not awkward.

Also, you were talking about should I lip sync? Like, no, you don't have to lip sync. You don't have to hold the microphone up to you if you're a background singer or if you have it on a stand. Step back from the stand. We should be singing the whole time.

Active Participation: Singing Without the Mic

Whenever you're leading worship you aren't just waiting for your moment to come into the song. And I do like, by the way, that you wait to come in until the second verse or whatever you talked about in the second course. That is 100% what you should be doing.

So, in those times before you come in, that's not your time to just wait until it's your time to come in. Remember, we are still worship leaders even when we don't have the microphone in front of us.

So, you should be singing the entire time. Step off the mic. You don't have to lip sync. You can sing full volume, just step back from the mic or don't hold it in front of your mouth, and then sing and look at people.

Practical Tips: Scanning and Eye Contact

So, to answer your question, you should be looking at the congregation. You should be looking at the people that you aren't just leading in worship, but that you are worshiping with.

You can look at your at the song leader too if you need like a cue of when to come in. You probably already know when to come in though. You're not guessing. You've practiced these things in advance.

So, just lead with confidence.

It's okay to have your eyes open. It's not awkward. In fact, most people probably aren't looking at you anyway. Let's be honest. They're probably looking at the words on the screen, which is perfectly fine.

But we want to set that example that is just a tangible reminder for people that this isn't a time to have our own personal times of worship, but we are worshiping together. And whenever you look at people while you are leading worship, you are reinforcing that.

I did this because I want to give you like an example also of scanning the room. We aren't staring at one person the whole time. We're scanning the room, so it's not awkward.

You're just looking at the people that you're leading like this, and then every once in a while, you'll make eye contact, and then you'll scan the room some more as you're singing the words to the song. And then, oh, it's course number two, in time for me to come in, and I'm in, and nothing has really changed other than the fact that I'm singing harmony now, and I've put the microphone in front of my face.

Further Training: Five Tips to Instantly Improve Your Worship Leading

Now, you probably already know that opening your eyes, I think, instantly improves your worship leading, but there's actually four other things that I want to teach you that instantly improve your worship leading. I don't have time for it in this video, but check out in the description below the link to the free audio training "Five Tips to Instantly Improve Your Worship Leading."

In that audio training, I'll teach you to open your eyes. We'll talk about that a little bit more, but also four other things that if you do it this Sunday, you will instantly level up your worship leading and be able to lead an engaging time of worship with confidence. So, check that out.

Also, if you have a question you want to send in for a future episode, head over to leadingworshipwell.com/realtalk where you can submit your own question.